What Colors I’m Loving Over 50
Some women thrive in and love vibrant colors. We all know the lady who loves red and surrounds herself with it at every opportunity…including her car! This month for our Style Edit Over 50, Cindy and I are discussing color in your wardrobe.
I’ve really struggled with this post because my passion has been for quiet neutrals since I let my hair go natural. Since going gray, my contrast has gotten even softer than before, and my hair has lost the “punch” that I got from adding highlights.
You can also read more about How To Find Your Personal Contrast Level And Why It Matters.
These days, I’m loving soft looks like the one above. They feel restful, quiet, and easy on the eyes. I decided to go through some old photos and see if I had many wearing bright colors. They were few and far between.
We’ve often talked about personal color analysis and the resulting palettes, which you can catch up on here. Many women thrive with a structured color palette that they stay within. It gives them the confidence to know which colors flatter them most. Other women balk at the very notion of limiting themselves and feel most confident wearing whatever strikes their fancy.
I’ve decided that I fall somewhere in the middle. I like to have a pallete, I prefer soft neutrals, but I also want to be free to wear whatever strikes my fancy.
You could have knocked me over with a feather when this J. Jill A-line linen dress jumped off the rack last week and insisted it was for me. I packed it for my trip to Canada and could not wait to wear it! Something about this color feels joyful, whether it flatters me or not.
I love the shape, the fabric, the pockets, and the set-in sleeve of this dress. What shocked me most was that I wanted this green rather than my typical blue. Here it is styled as a dress, which I also didn’t expect to like, but I do! I added tan sandals and a tan woven belt…neither of which are in my best color palette.
Here, I’m styling it as a duster over some white jeans and neutral wedges. This is how I prefer to style most button-up shirtdresses, and I expect to wear it this way. most often.
While I mostly wear a palette of softer neutral colors, I am encouraged by this latest find to try a couple of pops of color through accent pieces this summer. We’ll see how long this lasts!
Let’s go see what colors Cindy is wearing at Cindy Hattersley Design.
Do you wear a lot of color?
Iām the lady in red! You found me š¤š¤
Yay Michele. I envy your ability to wear red. ā„ļøā„ļø
First, that green dress looks fabulous on you!! Love it!!!!!! I am a color girl and love to wear lots of color. It makes me feel young and energetic.
I love your attitude! Color does have so much energy.
I went over to Cindy’s website, loved her outfit of the week. I also like she is local here in California.
To add on to my comment, you look great in the Green Linen dress. I was color coded many years ago as a summer. I need to go back and explore the colors. Anyway, keep on doing what you’re doing. All the outfits you preview look great on you! Have a Wonderful Weekend!š¹
Thanks, Linda. You have a great weekend too!
Hey Jennifer! I’ve been a fan for a long time! My hair color is the same as yours. I love color but I’m like you. I’ve been wearing neutrals and light colors of blues and Greens and pinks for so long its shock to see me in bold colors. I’m also very fair but I tan good so when I do get a little bit of a tan my hair looks lighter and brighter. I look really weird!! Help!!!
I’m always a bit shocked to see myself in brighter color too.
I guess Iām in the minority here, but I love the brighter colors on you! That green is fabulous on you, and it also love the bright pink (just not with black)! Personally, since Iāve gone gray, I feel neutrals tend to wash me out. I do like a crisp white, or black in colder months, but a big NO to blah beige. However, I am in agreement with you – wear what makes YOU feel good!
I agree with you CK! Sine my hair has grown out salt and pepper, I look awful in beige neutrals. Much better in pure white or black, silver gray or navy.
Happy Friday Jennifer! Like you I’m drawn to neutrals but on occasion jump into color, usually blues/some greens (not all) and my new thing orange (orange-white stripe tees). The orange thing began when I received a compliment- you look great in that orange tee (was wearing it with a grey fleece half zipped). Then another this spring wearing a Talbots orange/ white longer sleeved tee. I’m usually a blue person I feel but hey-i like a compliment!
I hear you!! Compliments are always welcome. Happy Friday, Paulette.
I definitely like to wear warm, bright colors. I occasionally wear neutral outfits in warm camels or mid-browns, but I usually add pops of color even when I am wearing my neutrals. I trained as a seasonal color analyst way back in 1984. I was typed as a spring and discovered that I had always been wearing the correct colors for my own coloring. When I was in 5th grade I started noticing that I looked bad in what were then my favorite colors – pink and lavender. I wondered why other girls with light brown hair looked good in those colors and I did not. Of course, at the time, I knew nothing of warm vs cool undertones. My classmates with light brown hair had cool undertones and I had very warm ones. By my teen years I had gravitated toward warm tomato reds, light yellowish oranges, bright rusts, warm greens, hazel green (matches my warm eye color), and golden yellows. Those are still my favorite colors today.
When I trained as a 4 season color analyst, I was frustrated by the severe limitations of the system. I thought it was kind of ridiculous to pigeon-hole everyone into one of only 4 categories. I chose to wear colors from both the spring and autumn pallettes. The colors I chose were uniformly warm and clear, but never pastel. I do not wear the light colors from the spring pallette and I do not wear the muted colors from the autumn pallette. I have found that Jen Vax’s Your Color Style system to be the most logical system available today. She classifies clients as warm or cool, soft or bright, and light, medium, or deep. I am warm, bright, medium in her system. I have not changed the colors I choose to wear since I was a teen. My color choices align perfectly with Jen Vax’s warm, bright, medium pallette. For me, the most important factor in choosing flattering colors is to avoid anything that has been grayed down. Jennifer, you look beautiful in your light, soft blues and your grayed neutrals. You would be cool, soft, light in Jen’s system. (I know you were analyzed by her a while back, but I don’t remember the outcome. I feel I seen enough of your photos in the past 2 or 3 years to be confident in pegging you as cool, soft, light.) Your colors are pretty much my opposites. Pastels wash me out. Anything with gray to soften the color makes me look ill. I kinda turn gray myself!
Though I look good in my neutrals, I feel best in bright colors. They really make my skin tone (a very pale, yellow ivory) come alive. I also feel they work well in my line of work as a private music teacher. They express my creativity and are kid-friendly :). I try to make sure that my color choices flatter me. I do not let the colors wear me. I feel that is important for all of us. Whether we prefer our colors to be neutral or more colorful, we should be seen first!
Fascinating Kathy. I have always known that orange and yellow are not flattering on me. Jen typed me as bright, cool, and light. In the Sci-Art system which has 12 seasons, I was typed a true summmer. I can wear colors with more intensity than the traditional āsummerā palette. Since I prefer so many neutrals the trick for me is learning which ones are most flattering.
I like the color systems that are more descriptive and less limiting.
I totally agree with you, we should be seen first!
Happy Friday Jennifer!
I just purchased the cardigan and fell in love with the light blue color! I ordered the pants and top in the same color. Can’t wait to receive it!
Thank you again for another inspirational post.
Jacquie C
Minnesota
Happy Friday!! I have a lot of their pieces. Youāll love them.
You look great in green. I look like I have hepatitis when I wear green but love blues and purple.
Enjoy your stay in BC!
Waving from behind you in North Van,
Sharon
North Van is so stunning! Lucky you.
I think now that my hair has gone grey some colour flatters me more otherwise I look washed out. I think you look fantastic in the bright pink cardigan. It brings you to life. I also like your green dress. Itās very versatile while travelling. You can wear it as a duster to keep the sun off your arms during the day, then strip off the under layer and wear it as a dress to dinner. I like the shirt dress style, very much. A popped collar always looks elegant.
Were you talking about me? š¤ I love red! I think a red coat pops in the sea of black in winter and makes me happy. I have touches of red in my house, with a red front door to welcome all, Andā¦a red SUV. I guess itās my happy colour.
How glorious to know and wear your happy color!ā„ļøā„ļøā„ļø
Itās a great dress.
I agree with you, the soft neutrals are very flattering on you. You mentioned color palettes — I’m a Winter and [still] wear a lot of black and bright pink, but I agree, those high-contrast Winter colors wash you out. Love the photo of the mtns and water, which appears to be somewhere in the Pac NW. So beautiful!
Weāre in Vancouver, BC. Itās so beautiful here. In fact, we love the entire Pacific NW
I love the neutral look too. I also love the color green on you. I have green eyes and so I like green. I lie somewhere in the middle about colors. Actually if I can just find something that fits the color is ok.
I l ove you in pink and green, but I understand your concentration on more neutral colors with your hair. I have revised my wardrobe pertaining to use & color after reading your blogs for about a year. You always give helpful suggestions and show us our options., Thanks so much!
Hi Jennifer
I feel like this post is reminiscent of our dress post! I struggle with dresses as well as a lot of color. I am trying to embrace it more. That J Jill Dress is a winner, and I like it styled as a dress and a duster. Take the day off and relax!
This one was really a struggle for me and yet, Iām wearing a dress! You look great in color because your contrast is stronger. Iām working on it.
You look great in that green dress! Iove how you belted it, and how the belt matches your sandals. What a classy outfit!
Thanks Kim
Hi Jennifer,
I love the way you are wearing the dress like a duster l am going to try that. I love color especially red! Happy weekend š
Happy Friday, Jennifer. I like the shirtdress open over the column of white. I too prefer soft summer colors with my low contrast coloring. I’m favoring blues and soft whites this season. Enjoy your weekend.
Happy Friday Deb!
I do love color, but not red or pink so much. I bought that same JJill dress and wore it last week. I just let if flow with no belt, and sneakers. I walked into town for a “First Friday” event and got so many compliments. Love the color and the linen hardly wrinkled. That color looks great on you!
It does look great loose, I agree. I think thatās why J Jill keeps bringing it back in new colors! Very flattering dress.
You look great in the green dress Jennifer – and that green is in the Summer pallet. I wear more colour in the summer months – I have added cobalt blue and fuchsia and am still looking for a bright jade green. I’m a Winter and wear the brights with white or black.
Have fun in Vancouver!
I was surprised to love it! Even if I do wear it with neutrals. Thanks. We love it here.
Color is tricky. You are very fair so you don’t want the color your wearing to overpower you.
Wear whatever makes you look alive. Neutrals can always be jazzed up like black and white.
That green dress is awesome on you. I bet the right shade of coral or peach would be good also.
I go with wear what you love Happy Friday.
I agree, Lin! Happy Friday
I am really liking color more now that I have more white than silver hair, since letting natural hair grow out. I had dyed dark blonde for years. I used to wear beige, cream, white a lot, and autumn colors. I have a light, warm skin tone.
I love, raspberry pink, magenta, teal, turquoise ,mauve, grey, bright light green, black now. I find it brightens, and looks good with my grey/white hair.
You look great in more color. Love the green on you.
Thank you Sue. Color is such a personal thing. I go back and forth in my preferences often.
I personally feel you look fantastic in the bright pink!
Itās sure a happy color.
The lady in red is probably a winter! I think people should wear what brings joy, and you look so hapoy in the green dress! Iām team palette because it suits me. Youāre gravitating to your summer palette with softer colors. You hit on something that Iām struggling with and that is how to adjust hair and makeup when our hair silvers. As a (former) dark brunette with fair olive skin, I now have MUCH less contrast. Iām finding that the lighter colors in the palette wash me out and a bright lipstick doesnāt look right with them. But white I can do with one of my neutrals and a bright lip. It just takes experimenting. Those Pistola jeans are made for you! They look current and modern. Keepers!
Hair color changes so much! I agree itās harder to pick colors but once we figure them out, itās amazing!
Good Post! I change up the colours I wear as I enjoy colour (clothing and decorating). I often wear a black or navy bottom and a bright blue of fuschia on top. The colour brings a lot of life to my skin tone, more than neutrals do. When wearing neutrals I stick to a white or black top. I find white and black to be very sophisticated. Enjoy reading your article with my morning coffee. Have a good weekend. Suzanne
Good morning, Suzanne! I find wearing black and white sophisticated too.
Hi Jennifer. I also gravitate towards neutrals as they have more versatility for me, the old mix and match. Recently in my search for a pale baby pink cardigan sweater, the only one I could find was a carnation pink. So far Iāve worn it twice to church and have gotten so many compliments on it and what it does for my coloring. Iām a fair, blue eyed, natural platinum (dark blonde slowly turning silver and I get many compliments on my hair color, as well) 67-yr old. When color seasons were big, (are they still used?) Iām a typical Summer: true, clean but muted colors. No peach, orange, yellow or brown on me! The green looks wonderful on you! Iām not a āgreen personā but the rare times when I wear a blue-toned green, I get compliments and it makes my eyes look green.
Yes, the seasonal color systems are still very popular. Some ladies adhere to it strictly. Iāve been typed as a true summer, and several other seasons š¤£ Carnation pink is such a great color!!
I am like you, neutral to the core, but I bought that dress in green as well! Itās odd to find something that bright that I liked. Wearing to my husbandās class reunion.
Now that is remarkable! There must be something like catnip about that green. Iām really looking forward to wearing it more too. Youāll look great at the reunion.
I love the neutral look with the beige cardigan. What size are you wearing? Something I would surely wear. thanks
Iām wearing a small but would rebuy in medium this year because Iāve put on a few pounds š¤£. I love it.
Jennifer, that green dress is stunning on you! I hope you will wear it as a dress as often as you can this summer. It is a youthful, flattering shade of green, and it makes your hair and complexion glow! As for me, I tend to wear color almost every day. Neutral outfits do not suit me, and I feel more confident wearing a range of colors paired with white for summer and black, gray, or navy for other seasons. Also, I enjoy wearing certain colorful prints that add interest and variety. To me, this is what makes fashion fun!
It sounds like you really have a lot of fun with fashion, Bea! I love to hear it.
The green dress looks beautiful on you! Enjoy! I am one of those people who surround myself in red (and pink, yellow, green, blue). I learned to love colors from both of my parents. By the way, several months ago I followed your advise and took a black and white selfish. Yup. I am a high contrast, even with my white hair. Have a nice weekend everyone!
Happy Friday, Judy! I donāt associate color with my parents but I do remember we had beige drapes. Maybe my mom loved beige!
I, too am a neutrals fan. I love you in the jeans and soft taupes outfit. While not “bright” colors, they are nonetheless very flattering on you. They suit you. At this stage of the game (age 67), I am content to wear mostly neutrals punched up with the occasional bright hue. I do like color, just not all the time, and not necessarily in large amounts. And I get to decide, right?!
You sure do, Nicole! I find neutrals calming and easier to wear so thatās whatās working for me lately. I do reserve the right to change my mind in the blink of an eye, though š